Instrument for separating the cuticle from the nails.



R. AMORY;

INSTRUMENT FOB SBPABATING THE GUTIGLB FROM THE NAILS. APPLICATION FILEDJAN. 1a, 1908.

902,546. Patented Nov.3,1908.

messes: Inventor:

C a a ZMW 6 f ROBERT AMORY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

INSTRU'LENT FOR SEPARATIN'G THE OIJ'TICLE FROM THE NAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 1908. I

Application mm January 18, 1908. Serial No. 411,399.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT AMoRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented new and useful Improvements in Instruments for Separatingthe Cuticle from the Nails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved instrument for separatin thecuticle from the nails. The use of sudh an instrument for separating thecuticle and flesh from a growing nail, when the instrument is made ofmetal is likely to cause onychia, whitlow and ingrowing toe-nails,especially when the cuticle or flesh from the soft tissues is attachedto the nail-and, when this elongates with the growing nail, ispulledaway from the surrounding flesli making a fissure, thus ex osing thewound to absorbing pus or other de eterious liquid by contact withunclean instruments, materials or articles.

The object of this invention is toobviate this risk to the user and tothis end an instrument of wood or other vegetable matter is charred orcarbonized atone end thereof to sterilize the wood and is then moistenedin water, referably anti septic, Which will soften t 1e charredsubstance and prevent the cutting of the cuticle or flesh at the side ofthe nail or under the separatednails at the ends of fingers, thumbs ortoe-nails after the wood or other vegetable matter is charred and theend moistened in water, all the free and superfluous charred material isremoved by friction so as to leave the said end smooth and clean.

It is more desirable, convenient and easier of mani ulation to use aconical smooth oint w en separating the cuticle or flesh mm the nail,but the conical point is not absolutely essential to the inventionhereinafter described. It is, however, very essential that the end ofthe instrument shall be clean and sterilized. Charring or carbonizing ofthe wood may be done in a variety of ways, either by igniting the-sameand aftervvards inoistening or by subjecting the same #Ito the action ofacids or other medicaments to produce the charred sterilized l Theinvention consists in the instrument hereinafter described and set forthin the claims.

The figure of the drawin s illustrates a side elevation of a desirableform of my imroved instrument for separating the ,cuticle om the nails.I

In the .drawings 1 is a handle'of any con venient form having a flange 2thereon which separates the handle from the stem 3 said stem beingrecessed to receive the shanlt 4 of an end piece 5. The end piece 5 isprefer ably conical in shape andformed of wood or other vegetablematerial. Said end piece 5 ma be made in one piece with the stem 3 anhandle 1, but preferably, is made de-' tachable, as shown 1n the drawinso that the same handle can be used wit number of different end pieces,which end pieces may be made-of various shapes and user. The end piece 5is sterilized before using in the following manner: It is'first ignitedand allowed to burn until a certain amount of the end piece has becomecharred and is then plunged into a lass of antise tic water, whereby thefurt er charring o the wood ceases and the carbonized ortion of saidwood ismoistened. Said carronized ortion of the wood is then rubbed witha clot to remove the superfluous carbonized material; leaving the end ofthe wood*charred'smoothf and of a conical form and in condition'te beused for the )urpose hereinbefore set forth, Without any danger ofcutting or injuring the flesh and without any danger of transferring.noxious or su purating matter from the in; strument to t e flesh of theperson using it and so clean that the same will not soil the fingers ortoes of the person usin g it by reason of any free carbonized matter.

ment in the manner hereinbcfore set forth I do not confine myself to thecharrin t e same by ignition, as it is evident t at the wooden end piecemay be charred by th'e use water which is used to'moisten'the 1nstru-.ment after; the charting operation-.-may be supplied with an alkali toneutralize any exsizes to suit the convenience or desire of the While itisprefcrable to char the instru a large sir.

of sulfuric or other acid substance and the o cess of said acid theresulting instrument be- I piece having a stem adapted to fit in arecess ing thus artialiy charred, as in the manner 'provide'din saidhandle. hereinbe ore set forth. In testimony whereof I have hereunto setHaving thus described my invention, what my hand-in presence of twosubscribing Wit- 5 I claim and desire by Letters Patent to senesses.

cure is:

An instrument for separating the cuticle ROBERT AMORY" from the nailsconsisting of a handle and an Witnesses: end piece formed of wood orother vegetable CHARLES S. GOODING, 10 substance and having a charredend, said end DANIEL A. RoLLINs.

